Zigzag stitching machine



A. FREDERICKS zIGzAG sTIT'cHING MACHINE March 5, 1946.

s sheets-sheet i l Filed July 50, 1941 -8 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. Fll-:Dr-:RlczKs ZIGZAG STITCHING 'MACHINE 'Filed July So, 1941 Manch 5, 1946.

Zig-6? March 5, 1946. A. FREDERICKS 2,395,159

' -zIGzAG s'rITcING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1941 8 sheets-sheet. 4

@f a 03 fw /60 WIA /94 l I /9 gmc/MDM .bZ/frefl Fre ric/fs @WMA March 5,1946. A. FREDERlcKs .2,396,169 z IGzAG STITCHI'NG MACHINE Filed July` 50, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 5, 1.946. A. l-R.l;.|: ERlcKs` f 2,396,159-

ZIGZAG STITCHING MACHINE Filed .July so, v1941 s sheets-shea 1 Q2/@JTM ZM xm y erick? March 5, 1946. A. FREDERlcKs -ZIGZAG STITCHING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet' 8 'fl/fled' rezlerz'ol 'l I 69M I i A Patented Mar. 5, 1946 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i ZIGZAG STITCHING MACHINE Alfred Fredericks, New York, N. Y. i Application July 30, 1941, SerialNro. 404,703 ,2 Claims. (Cl. 112-159) At the present time in the stitching of elastic tape on a fabric, it is the practice to rst stitch one edge of the tape with a single needle zigzag machine and then reverse the work and stitch the other edge. This procedure is not entirely satisfactory as the machines now available frequently make faulty ystitches which in certain types of Work makes an imperfect article, and as it requires an extra operation on the part of the operator with consequent loss of time.

Itis, therefore, another object of this invention to provide a machine of this type which will make at high speed, as an example, multiple lines of uniformly spaced zigzag stitches evenly along the tape in a single traverse of the work through the machine. f

A fu; ther object of this invention is to provide an improved rotary hook carrier.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved cam construction forr effecting reciprocaticn of the hook carrier.

' A futher object of this invention is to provide a machine of this type which will provide spaced lines of zigzag stitches in a uniformfmanner so 'that a tape will be nat upon the work and there will be nov skipping in stitches, and n bulging of either the tape or work between the lines of stitching A further object of this invention is to provide a multiple needle stitching machine for use in connection with the sewing of elastic or other ufacture, and incapable of suiciently high Aspeed to make them commercially successful. Further more,.the prior machines frequently broke one or more of the threads, skipped stitches, broke needles, and failed to tightly secure the tape to the work.

It is therefore, a further object of this invention to provide a machine which will overcome the disadvantages of the prior machines and which is so constructed that it may be operated at a very high speed without. skipping stitches, breaking threads, or requiring undue repairs, and which will perform its duties in half the time now required of the operator to peiform the same Woikor duties.

To trie foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter. appear, the invention consists of the novei construction, combination and arrangementof parts as will be more specificaiiy reiei red to and iliustrated in the accompanying di awings, wherein is snown an embodiment oi` the invention, 'out it is to be understood that changes, vaiiatioiis and modiiications may be iesorted to wiiicn iall within tne scope of the invention as maimed.

Inthe drawings: l

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation, partlybroken away, or a multiple needle z gzag stitching ma# chine constructed according to an embodiment of tiiis invention,

Figure z is a bottom plan view of the machine,

Figu.e 3 is a. top plan oi tiie forward portion oi the ced with the covers for trie rotaiy nook mechanism removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the iine 4 4 oi' Figure 3,

Figure b is a fragmemary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figuie o is a'detaii end elevation of the stitching head with the cover plate iernoved,

` r-igui'e 7 is a yfragmentary iront elevation of the thread tensioning means,

Figure is is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the 1ine`8--8 of Alitigi-1re '7, v

.Figure 9 is a detail rear elevation of the thread tensioning and reieasing meciianism,

Figure 10 is a sectional, View taken on the line Vlll-I0 of Figure 8,

Figuie 11 is a fragmentary-sectional view similar to Figure 8 showing in greater detail the ten- 'sion release operator, Y

A`Figure 12 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the tension release mechanism,

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line |3-l3 of Figure 2,

Figure 14 is a sectional View taken on the line |4-l4 of Figure 13,

I Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on the line l5-l5 of Figure 13, Y Figure 16 is a perspective view of one of the looper saddles,

Figure 17 is a perspective View ofthe other of the looper saddles,

Figure 18 is a detail top plan of the presser foot,

Figure 19 is a detail side elevation or" the presser foot, and

Figure 2O is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the looper operating gears.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral designates generally a head structure including a bed or base 28 which has secured or formed integral with one end thereof an upstanding hollow support 2. A forwardly extending hollow arm 28 is secured to or formed integral with the upper end of the support 2'! and is'also of hollow construction. A horizontally disposed drive shaft 29 is journalled in the arm 28 and has operatively engaged with one end thereof a pulley orgrooved driving wheel 38 with which a belt 3i is adapted to engage. The belt 3l is adapted to be connected with a suitable power mechanism (not shown) for rotating the shaft 29 at the desired speed. The shaft 29 extends to the forward end of the arm 28 and has xed thereto a crank 32 as shown in Figure 8.

The crank or arm 32 has a pin 3'3 mounted thereon with which the upperv end of a needle carrier reciprocating pitman 34, see Figure 5, is adapted to be connected. The lower end of the pitman ed is rockably mounted on a pin 35 carried by a clamping block 36 which is mo-unted on a vertically reciprocable needlecarrier shaft 31. The shaft 37 is vertically slidable in a bearing 38 disposed within theU hollow head 39.

A needle clamping block 49 is mountedon the I ing bolt 45 is adapted to engageso asr to tightly hold the body i3'on the reduced shaft portion 4l. The body 43 is formed with a horizontally disposed forwardlyv offset lower portion 48 having a pair of spaced apart needle sockets 47 therein I for removably receiving a pair of needles 48, The needles [i3 are adapted to be removably secured in the sockets 4l by thumb screws 49 which are threaded into the offset portion 48.

The needle shaft 37 and the clamping member 48 are laterally shifted in"orde`r to provide for a zigzag stitch structure by the following means: The bearing 38 is connected with a lower bearing 5o by means of'an Aoffset connecting member 5l and the bearing member 59 is formed at its forward side with a, forwardly extending arm or lug 52. The lug or arm 52 is provided with an elongated horizontally disposed slot 53 in which a headed pin 54 is adapted to loosely engage. The pin 5G is adapted to be threaded into the lower portion of the head 39.

An upwardly extending supporting lever or arm 52a is fixed to or formed integral with the lug 52 and is provided at its `upper end with a bushing 5219 through which a pivot pin 52e engages. The pin 52o is threaded-into the upper portion of the head 39 as shown in Figure 6, In this manner the bearings 38 and 58 are swingably supported from the head 39.

The bearing member 5G is also formed with a pair of inwardly extending ears 55 between which the forward downwardly onset end 56 oa pitman el is adapted to be pivotally engaged. A pivot pin 5S engages through the ears 55 and the forward portion of the pitman 5l. YThe pitman y ascenso tion 59 connected with the forwardly and downwardly offset portion 55 by means of an integral connecting member 58. The rear portion of the pitman 57 is formed with a split loop similar to the loop structure shown in Figure 14 which is adapted to be connected with an adjustable eccentric member Bl. The details of construction of the eccentric structure Si are similar to the details of construction of the eccentric for shifting the shuttle mechanism and will be described in greater detail hereafter.

The inner portion of the supporting arm 28 is formed with a forwardly offset annulus 62 on which a cover plate 63 is adapted to be mounted by fastening devices 64. A top cover plate 65 is mounted `o`n the upper portion of the supporting arm 28' and is secured in position by means of at least one fastening device 66 as shown in Figure l.

The drive shaft 29 has mounted thereon in the upper portion cf the supporting member 27 a beveled ,y gear El.. The beveled gear 5'! meshes with a beveled gearA 68 which is mounted on the upper end portion of a vertcalgcountershaft 69 which is journaled in bearings i8 carried by the interior of the hollow supporting member 27. The lower end of the countershaft 69 has secured thereto a lower beveled gear 'il which meshes with a beveled gear 'l2 secured to a horizontally disposed shuttle operating shaft 13. The rear end portion of the shaft 13 is journaled in a bearing 'i4 which is carried by and extends downwardly from the under side `of the bed or base 26.

The shaft 'i3 has xed thereto a worm 'I5 which is held against endwise movement on the shaft 'I3 by means of a pair of collars 16 and TI, The worm T5 is adapted to mesh with a worm gear '18 which is mounted on a shaft i9. The shaft 'I9 is disposed in vertical position and is journaled at its upper end in a bearing 8D which is secured by fastening devices 8l to the under side of the base or bed 26. The lower'end of the shaft 'i9 is journaledin a bearing plate 82 which is secured by fastening devices 83 to a downwardly extending lug 84. The lug 94 is secured by fastening devices 85 to the under sideof the bed or base 26, A thrust washer or plateY 85 is interposed between the lower. side of the Worm gear 1S and the adjacent face of the bearing member 82. The worm gear 'I8 may be keyed or otherwise mounted on thershaft i8 for effecting rotation of the shaft 19. A plate 81 which is formed with a hub 88 is mountedon the shaft 19 above the worm gear 3 and'is secured against rotation relative to the shaft 19 `by set screws 89. A cam plate 90 is adapted to be disposed in face abutting relation with respect to the plate 8l and the plate 90 is secured to the plate 8'!v by a fastening device in the form of a bolt 9i. Theplate 99 is'formed with an elongated Larcuate openingl or slot 92 at a point diametrically opposite from the bolt 9i through which a seco-nd bolt 93.` is adapted to engage. The slot 92 provides la means whereby the plate Sil may be eccentricallyadjusted with respect to the plate 8'! and held in itseccentric adjusted position.

An annular cam member or .eccentric 94 is fixed to or formed integral with the cam plate 98 and is provided with a relatively large bore 95 through which the shaft 19 loosely engages. The plate 8i) is also formed with a bore 96 which is formed as a continuation ofthe rbore 95 in order to permit the eccentric adjustment of the cam member 94 and the plate 90 relative to the plate 81. The rear end portion S1 of a shuttle mechanism opcam plate 90. The screw .|02 has formed on the inner endl thereof a reduced diameter pin |04 which is engageable in a concave recess |05 formed in the periphery of the shaft 19. The

plate '90 is formed at a point diametrcally opposite from the enlargement orlug |03 with a second lug or enlargement |06 having a bore |01 therethrough. A spring-pressed plunger |08 is slidable in the bore |01 and is formed at its inner end with a concave portion |09 slidably engaging the periphery of the shaft 19. The plunger or plug |08 is formed at its outer end with a reduced stem ||0 about which the inner end of a plug tensioning spring is adapted to engage. The outer end of the spring engages about the reduced end portion ||2 of a plunger or plug tensioning screw 'I |3 which is threaded into ythe outer end portion of the lug or enlargement |06. The cam structure 6| for reciprocating the pitman 58k is similar in every detail to the cam structure hereinbefore described and shown in greater detail in Figures 13, 14 and 15.

By providing an annular cam or eccentric 94 as hereinbefore described, the pitmans Hand 98 will be reciprocated back and forth in a smooth operation so as to eliminate any vibration of the machine when operating at a very high speed. It will be understood that the machine embodying this invention is operated at a very high speed in order to rapidly turn out the work which is operated upon.

The forward end portion of the pitman 96 is connected by means of a pivot member ||4 to a slide member I I5. The slide member |5 slidably engages the under side of a downwardly offset housing ||6 carried by the bed 'or base 26.' A guide member ||1 which is carried by a right Vangularly disposed plate ||8 engages one edge of the slide ||5 and is secured to the rear side of the housing ||6 by fastening members H9. A second plate or guide is secured by fastening devices |2| to the bottom wall |22 of the housing l|6. I

A shaft |23 is disposed in axial alignment with the shaft 13, being rotatably and slidably mounted in a pair of bearingsv|24 and |25 which are fixed to or formed integral with the under side of the lbed or base 26. The shaft 13 has secured to the end thereof adjacent the end of the shaft |23 a coupling plate |26 formed with a hub |21 secured by fastening members |28 to the shaft 13. The

is formed in the periphery thereof with a longitudinally extending groove |36 within which fastening members |31 and |38 engaging through the worm members |34 and |35 respectively are adapted to engage so that the worm members will be held against rotary movement and also endwise movement on the shaft |23. A grooved member |39 is interposed between the adjacent ends of the worm members |34 and |35 and is secured to the shaft |23 by a fastening member |40 which engagesat its inner end Within the channel or groove |36 as shown in greater detail in Figure 20. l f

In order to provide a means whereby the shaft |23 will be moved endwise' coincident with the reciprocation of the slide member |5, I have provided an arcuate bar |4| whichis adapted to engage in the groove of the grooved member |39. The arcuate holding member |4| is formedwith an outer base |42 which is secured by fastening members |43 which are threaded into the slide member H5. The worm |34 meshes with a worm gear |44 which is mounted on a looper shaft |45. The looper shaft is journaled at its lower end through an adjustable plat'e |46 which is formed with an elongated slot or opening |41. A pair of fastening members |48 are extended through the slot |41 and threaded into the slide ||5 for holding the plate |46 in lengthwise adjusted position with respect tothe siide I5. f

Theworm |35 meshes with a worm gear |49 which is mounted on the lower end of a vertical looper shaft |50. The shaft |50 is journaled through an adjustable lowerbearing plate |5| khaving an elongated slot |52 therethrough. 'A

pair of fastening members |53 engage through the slot |52 and are threaded into the slidemember ||5 so as to hold the bearing plate |5| in longitudinally adjusted position with respect to the slide ||5. The slide ||5 is formed with a long slot or openingV |54 through which the two shafts |45 and |50 loosely extend. The bottom wall |12 is also formed with an elongated opening |55 plate |26 has fixedly mounted thereinfa plurality of circumferentially spaced apart coupling pins |29 which slidably engage in openings |30 formed in a second coupling plate I3 The coupling |3| is .provided with a hub |32 fixed by one or more fastening devices |33 to the shaft |23. The coupling pins |29 are of such a length as to provide for rotation of the shaft |23 for the length of 'movement of the slide member ||5.

`posediin'spaced apart relation. The shaft |23 through which the shafts |45 and |50 loosely engage. The two long slots |54 and |55 are of sufficient length to permit the endwise movement of the slide ||5 and also to permit adjustment of Athe shafts |45 and |50 relative to each other to provide for the desired looping of the threads carried by theY shuttles associated with the looper shafts. Y i

A saddle member or plate |56 is slidably mounted on the upper side of the bottom wall |22 of the housing ||6 and is provided -with a pair of parallel spaced apart slots |51 through which clamping bolts |58 engagefor adjustably clamping the saddle |56 on the upper side of the wall |22. The saddle |56 has yfixed thereto a bearing or bushing |59 through which the shaft A|45 is journaled. A second saddle or plate |60 having 'a pair rof parallel elongated slots |6| is slidably secured by clamping bolts |62 to the upper side of the bottom wall |22 in spaced apart relation with respect to the saddle |56. The saddle or plate |60 hasv xed thereto a depending bearing or bushing |63 through which the looper shaft y |50 is journaled. The two bushings |59 and |63' .loosely extend Ythrough n the elongated slots cr openings |54and |55 formed in the slide ||5 and the bottom wall |22 respectively.

A plate |64 is disposed on the upper side of the saddle |56 and has formed integral therewith an year |65 provided with an elongated slot |66 through which a. fastening'member |61 engages.

The fastening device |61 provides a means whereby the plate |64 may be circumferentially adjusted with respect to the shaft |45. vA bobbin receptacle |68 is mounted abovek the plate |64 and a loop-forming hook |69 Yis secured. to. the shaft |45 below the receptacle |68. An oscillating loop linger |16 is interposed between thebase-of the hook structure |69 and the plate v|64 and coacts with the hook |69 in form-ingthe `desir-ed loop for looping the thread below the work. The receptacle |68 is formed with a radially extending lug |1'| which is adapted to looselyengage in a downwardly opening substantially V-shaped notch |12 which is formed in the under side of a rotation Arestraining arm or finger |13. The armor nger |13 is secured to an upright supporting member |14 formed with a base plate |15 secured by fastening devices |16 in a rabbet or cutout |11 carried by the adjacent edge portion ofthe saddle |56, as shown in Figure 16.

The vthread engaging the hook |69 is adapted toV slide between the lug |1| and the marginal faces of the V-shapedopening or recess |12 in forming the completed loop. A bobbin |18 is adapted to .rotatably engage within the receptacle "|.68and the bobbin |18 is frictionally held against rotation with respect to the receptacle |66 by means of a spring |16 which is carried by the receptacle |68. The constructions of the receptacle |68, the hook |69 and the loop-.forming finger |16 are conventional. The nger |13 is substantially straight and extends rearwardly at substantially a tangent to the bobbin |16-as shown` in Figure 3. The thread whichis carried by the associated needle is adapted to ride along the outeredge` |68 of the rotation restraining finger |13v and pass over the rear end of this n-ger as the hook |69 engages and pulls the thread rearwardly of the retaining nger |13.`

The saddle |36 has mounted on the upper surface thereof a plate |8| formed with anoutward- 266 Awhich extend vover `the upper faces of the saddles |56` and |66, respectively, so as to slidably vhold the saddles on the bottom wall |22. The guide member |99 is secured by fastening devices 26| to the plate l|91 and the guide member 266 is secured by fastening devicesy 262 to the upper face of the plate |91.

The Work which is being moved through the machine is moved by means of a work-feeding member 2634 whichv is constructed in the form of `an elongated serrated bar 264 secured to an upwardly extending arm 265. A plate 266 is ly extending ear |82 having a notch |83 therein for receiving a clamping bolt or screw |84. The

bolt or screw |84 is threadedk intothe saddle |66 and the platey |8| is adapted to be circumferentially adjusted with respect t0 the hook shaft |56 by swinging of the ear |62. A bobbin receptacle l|85 is mounted above theplate |8| and is provided with a radially and outwardly extending lug or finger |86 adapted to engage in a downwardly opening substantially V-shaped notch |81 carried by a rotation restraining finger |68. VTherfinger |38 includes a rear portion |89 extending in substantially parallel relation with the movement of the work and also includes an obtusely disposed extension |96 which is provided with the notch |81 in the rear portion thereof. vThe finger |88 is supported in operative position above the receptacle, |85 by means of an upright supporting member ISI carried by a base |92. The base |62 is secured by fastening devices |93 in 'arabbet or'cutout |94 which is formed in the inner portion and the upper 'surface of the A loop-forming hool f|94 is fixed to the shaft |56 and rotates about the receptacle 185. An oscillating loop-forming fingery |65I is interposed between the base of the hook |64- and the plate |8| and coacts 'with 'the'hofok |94 in forming the loop of the -two threads from the shuttle |96 and the associated needle.

The-two saddles |56 and `|66 are adapted to be reciprocated with the slide i5 and preferably, 1a plate- |91 is secured by fastening devices |96 t'o-theupper side-of the bottom wall |22` and is provided with .'a pair of guide plates A|99fand va presser foot shaft 237|.

-head -39`re`arwardly of the needle shaft 31. :shaft A231 has xed thereto ra rearwardly extendmounted on the table 26 and is formed with an elongated opening 261 within which the feeding member 263 loosely engages. A pair of laterally offset feeding members 268 and 269 are disposed in parallel relation with respect to the feeding member 263 and are formed integral with the extension 265. TheA feeding members 268 and 269 are adapted. to be disposed substantially in alignment with the two needles 46 so as to feed the material directly to the needles. The feeding members 268 and 269 are substantially shorter in length than the feeding member 263, the feeding` member 263 being adapted to extend between the two needles 48. The plate 266 is formed with a pair of slots 2|6 within which the feeding members 268 and 269 slidably engage. The feeding members 263, 268 and 269 are carried by an elongated arm 2|| which is secured by fastening devices 2|2 to a horizontally disposed feed operating arm 2|3. The arm 2|3 is slidable through an opening 2l-4 formed in the forward wall 2|5 of the housing |56. The arm 2|3 at its forward end is provided with a downwardly extending member. 2|6 which may loosely engage .in av slot or cutout 2|1 formed in the plate |91.

The rear end of the arm 2|3 is formed with a socket 2|8 in which a disc-shaped element 2|9 carried by a lever 226 rockably engages. The lever 226 is fixed tok a rook shaft 22| which is operatively connected with the drive shaft 29, the movement of the rock shaft 22| and its connection with the drive shaft being of conventional` construction.

A horizontally and rearwardly extending guide membery 222 is ldisposed in parallel relation with 'the arm` 21|3 and is secured to or formed integral with lthe lower end of vthe extension 2 I6, as shown vin Figure 5. A slide or block 223 is slidably disposed between the arm 2|3 and the guide member 222 and Vis formed at the upper and lower edges thereof with depending flanges 224 for engagement on the opposite faces of the arm 2|,3 and the guide member 222. The block or slide 223 is; formed with a socket 225 in which a pivot vmember 226 carried by a rock arm 221 rockably engages. The arm or lever 221 is fixed to` a rock shaft 228 which is operatively connected with the drive shaft 29 and coacts with the rock shaft-22| in effecting vertical movement vof. the feeding members 263, 266 and 269 simultaneously with the back and forth movement or reciprocation thereof.

A presser foot generally designated as 229 is adapted to engage above the table 26 and above the feeding members 263, 268 .and 269. The presser foot 229 lis secured in a downwardly opening slot 230 formed inthe lower end portion of The presser foot 229 is secured in the slot 236 by a fastening device 232. The shaft 23| is vertically adjustable in ka cylindrical guide 233 which nis carried by the The ing arm4 234 which extends'throughthe rear wally 235 of the head 39, and the shaft 23| is moved to an uppermost inoperative position by means of la shaft operating lever 236 pivotally mounted on a pivot' 231 engaging Abetween a pair of ears 238. The lever 236`is formed with a cam portion 239 engageable with the under side of the .lug 234 as shown more specifically in Figure 6. The shaft 23| is spring-pressed in a 'conventional manner to a lowermost operative position.

The presser foot 229 includesa flat plate 246 which is provided on the under side thereof with a pair of downwardly extending guide ribs 24| spaced apart a suicient distance so that a tape T may slidable engage between the pair of ribsl 24|.

A transversely extending flat strip or bar 242` extends between the two ribs 24| adjacent the forward end portion thereof so as to form `a naropenings 265 and 266 through whichV the thread row guide channel 243 through which the tape T is adapted to be threaded. The forward end portion of the plate 246 is provided with an upwardly extending vbody 244 which forms a guide at the forward portion of the foot structure 229. The plate 240 is provided with a pair of elongated openings 245 positionedon opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof through which the needles 48 are adapted to loosely engage. The slots 245 are of sufficient length so as to permit the'threads and the needles 48 to laterally shift while the foot 24 remains stationary. The plate 246 is provided With a pair of upstanding lugs or ears 246 between which a block 241 carried by a flat stem 248 is adapted to loosely engage. The block 241 is of substantially triangular configuration in side elevation and has a pivot pin 249 extending therethrough. The Vpivot pin 249V isalso extended through the ears 246 so that the plateV 246 stem 246. The plate 246 is limited in its rocking movement with respect to the block`241 by the flat lower face 256 of the block 241. The plate 246 is constantly urgedto a substantially right angularly disposed positionwith respect to the stem 248 by means of a fiat leaf spring 25| which is secured at one end as by a fastening device 252 to theforward'face rof the block 241. The

forward orfree end of .the spring 25|y engages' the arcuate upper face 253 rof the lug or rib 244. By rockably mounting the plate 246 on the vstem 248, the plate or foot member 246 may rock upwardly whenseams or multiple thicknesses of Iznaterial arefpassing beneath the foot member A thread tensioning structure generally designated as 254 is disposed onthe forward side of the supporting arm 28 adiacent the head 39. The tensioning structure 254- includes a plate 255 formed Vwithan upwardly extending ear 256. A fastening device'251 extends-through the ear 256 and Ais 'threaded into a forwardly projecting boss 258 which is fixed' relative to the` supporting member or 'arm 28. -In the present instance,

there are two needles (48' and two strands or' threads 259` and 266zwhi'ch are threaded through the needles-48 and tensioned by the tensioning structure 254. Anupstandingfpost 26| is fixed to theupper side of.r the supporting arm 28 and is provided with apair' ofright angularly dis'A posed and vertically spaced apart openings 262 and 263 through which the thread 259 is threaded. The post,26| provides a combined guide and tensioning means for Athe 'thread Y259.

YA second upstanding post 264 is also'fixed to the upper side of the supporting'l arm 28 and is' provided with a .pair-of' vertically spaced guide will be pivotally supported from the '.tensioning member 268.

266 is threaded.

The plate 2551 has secured thereto an open eye or loop 261 disposed adjacent a spring-pressed tween a pair of dished washers which are under the tension of a spring 269. The details of construction of the washers 216 are morespecically vshown in Figures 9 and v10. The thread260 is extended from the post 264 and thenpassed through a guide eye 21| disposed adjacent a spring-pressed tensioning member 212. The thread is then extended from the-tensioning member 212' to a thread tensioning means 213. The tensioning means 213 includes an' inner washer 214 and an outer washer 215. The washers 214 and 215 are mounted on a threaded shaft 216 which is fixed tothe plate 255. The plate 255 is formed with a tapered opening 211 in which the rear end portion of the shaft 216 engages, and the shaft 216 is upset as at 218 soV shaft or supporting member 216 and is`provided' with a diametrically disposed bar 28| which slidably engages in an elongated slot 282 formed in" the shaft or supporting member 216.` 'Ihe sup' porting member 216 is provided with 'a bore 283 extending from the outer end porti-on thereof and the enlarged bodv portion 284 of a. tension rel leasing pin 285 slidably engages in the bore 283.

The outer end portion of the body 284 abuts against the bar 28| so tbat'outward movement ofthe pin 285 and the body 284 will forcibly move the washer 286 outwardly against the tension of a tensioning spring 286. A spring tensioning nut 281 is threaded onto the supporting-member 216 and engages against the outer endof Athe springV 286. l The thread tensioning structure including the pair of washers 216 and thespring269 with thesupportingmember'286 therefore is similar in every detail to the structure shown in Figures. 8 and 10with respect to the thread tensioningr slidably 'engages member 213. v The pin 285 through an opening 289 formed in the plate and the reary end of the pin 285 proiect's rear' wardly of-the rear face of the plate 255.

A nin operating 'member generally designated as'296 is pivotally supported from supporting pins 29| fixed to theplate 255 and extending'rearwardly therefrom. l 296 is interposed between the rear side o'f the plate 255 formed with an obtuselv disposed lever 292 which is disposed in the path of-the movement of a: tension releasing pin 293 which is Yslidalole in an' opening 294 formed in the head 39 below the forward end of the shaft 29 and the crank 32.' The pin operating member 296 is formed with anex# tension '295 which terminates in a position con'-l fronting the rear end of one ofthe pins 285 and the armor lever`292 is disposed in a confronting position with respect'to the other of the pins The thread 2579 is The pin operating member and the forward side of the supporting member 28. The pin operating member 296'isv 293 has an annularl the 'endsthereof' and a pin operatingmember generally designated as 291 loosely `engages inthe groove v296. The'. pin operating member 291 is constructed in the.

form of a parti-sphericalbody 299 which loosely engages inthe groove 296; and a second parti:- spherical body 299 which is substantially larger in diameter than the body` 2981 so as to thereby form a shoulder 300 which is adapted to engage. the peripheral surface of the pin 293 outwardly from the groove 296. The parti-spherical body 299 is formed with a iiat cam face Sill` which is disposed in the path of rotation of a semi-circus lar cam member 302 which is xed to the shaftVv 29 and may be formed integral with the crank;

or arm 32. The forward end of the supporting member 28 is formed with an elongated opening 303' within which the pin operating member 291 movably engages. The pin operating member 291- is adaptedI to contact with the leading edge of the:

s rearward movement of the pin 293, beine carried by a horizontally disposed supporting member 306 which is fixed to one side of the foot operating luer 234. TheY forward face of thespring mem-- ber' 305 is bevelled, as at 301, so that the pin 293 will be moved' forwardly upon raising of-thefoot lever 236 and the lug 234.

The' forward end' of the pin 293 is formed with a round nose' 308y confronting the-lower end' of the operating memberV 290 and the rear end of;

the pin 293 is formed with a relatively lpointed portion 309. Preferably. the bore 294 is provided with a V-shaped lower portion 3'I0 which is adapted to prevent rotar;7 movement of the pin 293` in the bore 294'. When the pin 293' is release'd by the cam 302- riding off of the flat facev 3M of the pin operating mem-berv 291-. the spring 305 will move the pin 293 forwardly so as to strike the operating member 290. Forward rockinsr of the operating member 290 will push the two pins 285 forwardly in the supporting members 216 and 288 and relieve thev washer-e214 and 215 of the tension of the springr 286. lease of tension on the two threads 259 and 260 is eii'ected iust before the rockable thread pulling member '3H mounted on the forward portion of the supporting member 28 reaches the uppermost position in its rocking movement. This' momentary release of the tension on the two threads `has been found necessary in order to permit the threadl to be properly looped and pulled over' against the under face of the work. Without this release of tension. the ythread pulling member 3H has a tendency to break the thread.

A grooved thread guiding mem-ber 312 is mounted' on a supporting shaftl 313 carried by a downwardly extending armv 3M formed integral with the plate 255. The two threads 259 and 260 are adapted to engage.- in the groove 315 of the erooved member 3&2 and in order' to provide a means whereby the thread will not readily be able to become disengaged from the grooved member' 3 I2 I have provided a forwardly extending spring finger 316 which is struck from the rear wall 3l1 of the grooved member- 3|2 and extends forwardly into an elongated slot 3&0

This reformed .in the'frontwall 3 L9' ot'thefgrooved1mem ber31-|r2.. The; memberv 312 is; formed with a pair of elongated arcuate-registering slots` 320e in they Wallsrli 1: and' 31.9: through which' a'. holding screw- 32|. engages. so: as: to .hold the groovedv member 3.152- against rotation on the shaft` 3|;3. They shaft 313v is: formed rearwardly of 'thev plate: 255 with an enlargedv cylindri'calzbody 3'22;which is adapted toa loosely engage .in aso'cket 3.23l formed' in the forward. side. vof the:- supporting member: 28.

A reduced rextension 3.24 extends rearwardly from: the enlarged portion 322. .and-iisJ adapted. tov set in a` forwardly opening: socket 325 which is.4 formed' inthe base of the socket 323; A. coil; spring 3.26iis disposedabout; the enlargedl part 322V of the shaft 3|.3i and' has one end thereof hooked into a groove. or recess V321fornied in the. peripheryof the enIargedshaft' member 3212' adjacent the rear end thereof. The. coilspring 326 'is formed with a loop 328. which overlies the two, walls 3|.'I and 3|.9 ofthe groot/ed member 3lY2'and the spring is also formed withan eye or loop 329 engaging about the shaft 3|3 outwardlyirom the grooved member 3 I2.. A nut 330; is threaded onto the threaded outer portionA of thev shaft 3I3 and is adaptedY to hold the.` eye 329 in the desired. position with respect to the outer side of the grooved member 3 I2.

After the threads pass: upwardly from the grooved member 31.2; they are adapted toengage an arcuate thread guiding arm 33| which is secured to the forward side of thehead'3`9 atv a point below thel pulling member 3H. The twoy threads are then 'extended through the: eye of the pulling member 3H and brought downwardly through a .pair of openings formed in a forwardly extending flange 332 which forms a part of the guide mem-A ber 33|, The threads are then extended downwardly through a lower guide member 333 which is fixed by a fastening device 334 to the head 39. The threads are extended from the looped guide. member 332 to the eyes of the'needles 48'.

A tape guide member generally designated as 335 is carried by the head 39L andv includes a splitV elongated loop 3316 which is carried bya forwardly extending supporting larm 331. The rear end of the arml 331 is formed with an eye 338 which is secured byv a thumb screwv 339 to the head 39. The looped guide. member 336 is disposed in a position overlying the presser foot 229 so as to evenly guide theV tape` T to the forwardl end of the presser foot 229. The tape which engages through the guide loop 336 is taken from a supply roll which may be supported'in any suitable man..

ner above and rearwardlyA of the stitching ma- 4 chine.

With a guide structure of this kind', the tape is fed to the machine in such a manner as not to interfere in any way with the movement of the l work through the machine. At the present time,

it is the practice to support the tape at a point belowv the table or bed 26 and with thisprocedvre it is necessaryr to insert` the work' below the tape. However, with a tape guidingv means including a. tape guiding presser foot as hereinbefore described, the tape which is being stitched to the. work is free of the work until it is nnallv stitched thereto. The operator-of the machine, therefore, can insert the several pieces of work rapidly beneath the presser foot as the work is moved by means of the feeding structure.

In the use and operation, the machine is adapt.. ed' to be mounted on a` suitable supportingv structure and' operatively' connected with a. power source through the ilexible belt 3i'. It. will be prising a head, a bed plate integral with said understood that a suitable clutch mechanism may be mounted within the head of the machine in association with the shaft '29, such clutch mechanism being conventional in construction,l The work is inserted beneath the presser footY 229V under the tape T and at the time the needles 48 move downwardly through the t-ape and the Work, the needles 48 move downwardly in a straight vertical line, The two threads are looped beneath the work by the looper machanism hereinbefore described, and the needles then move upwardly.

During the upward movement of the needles 48 the two cam structures and 94 will shift the needles 48 and the shuttles |18 and |96 laterally in the same direction. At the time the pulling member 3| I reaches substantially the uppermost position, the tension'on the two threadsis -re-Y leased/by Ytliefielearsing pin 293. During the up- 4 ward Vmovement of the needles, the cam member 302 will initially strike the pin operating member- 291 so as to shift the operator 291 and the pin 293 rearwardly or to the left as viewed in Figures 8 an'd 11.

The rearward shifting of the pin 293 will bring the rear end 309 thereof into engagement with the spring 305 so as to place this spring under tension. The spring 305`is a relatively heavy spring so that -when the operator 291 is released, the spring 305 will quickly shift the pin 293 forwardly. After the pin 291 is moved rearwardly or to the left by the leading edge of the cam 302l the arcuate or peripheral surface of the cam 302 Will ride over the flat face 30| of the operator 291 and hold the operator 291 with the pin 293 in a rearward position under the tension of the spring 305. When the cam 302 rides off of the flat face 30| of the operator 291 the pin 293 is suddenly released and forced forwardly by the spring 305 into engagement with the tension release lever 292. The forward rocking of the lever 292 will force the two releasing pins 285 forwardly so as to relieve the two tensioning members 210 and 213 of the tension of their respective springs.

A machine has been constructed according to this invention and operated at a relatively high speed and has been found to provide more uniform stitching on the opposite marginal edges of a tape than is possible by either a single zigzag stitching machine, such as is now available, or a multiple needle stitching machine which does not embody this invention. In fact,^there does not appead to be any multiple needle machine available for producing a zigzag stitch.

What I claim is: f Y

l. A multiple needle stitching machine comhead, a drive shaft journaled in said head, a.

needle carrier, means connected with said drive shaft for vertically reciprocating said carrier,

Vmeans supporting said carrier for lateral shifting, means supported by said head and driven by said drive shaft for laterally shifting said carrier, a vertical shaft, gear means connecting said vertical shaft withrsaid'drive shaft, a horizontal driven shaft rotatably carried by said bed plate, gear means connecting said driven shaft with said vertical shaft, a second driven shaft aligning with said first driven shaft, a slidable connection Vbetween said first and second driven shafts, a

slide plate below said bed, means slidably securing said plate to said bed, a pair of looper members carried by said slide plate, means for adjusting said looper members relative to-each other on said slide plate, gear meas connecting said latter members with said second driven shaft, and means connected with said first driven shaft and with said slide plate for reciprocating ther latter, reciprocation of said slide plate also reciprocating said second driven shaft relative to said first driven shaft,

2. A multiple needle stitching machine comprising a head, a bed plate integral with said head, a drive shaft journaled in said head, a needle carrier, means connected with said drive shaft for vertical reciprocating said carrier, means supporting said carrier for lateral shifting, cam means supported by said head and driven by said drive shaft for laterally shifting said carrier, .a vertical shaft, gear means connecting said vertical shaft with said drive shaft, a horizontal driven shaft rotatably carried by said bed plate, gear means connecting said driven shaft with said vertical shaft, a second driven shaft aligning with said first driven shaft, a slidv vter members with said second driven shaft, and

cam means connected with said first driven shaft and with said slide plate for reciprocating the latter, reciprocato-n of said slide plate also reciprocating said second driven shaft relative to said rst driven shaft.

ALFRED FREDERICKS. 

